Air carrier pilot not happy with ATC services on arrival to a major air carrier airport.

Attributes
ACN	143958
Time
Date	199004
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : atl
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 0 msl bound upper : 12000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : atl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	cruise other landing other other
Route In Use	arrival other enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 200 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 5000
ASRS Report	143958
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

Unnecessary ATC harassment, delay and loss of big picture. We were given holding at macey intersection with an EAC of 30 mins (actually held only 5-6 mins). We were given 280 KTS, then 300 KTS for 50 mi, then slowed straight to 180 KTS at 12000' AGL before arriving abeam airport. We were told of 20 min final. Turned about 16-17 mi final with good 10 mi in trail wit aircraft ahead and were told to hold 170 KTS to marker. We were clear of clouds at 1000' AGL and aircraft ahead of us was already clearing runway. Aircraft ahead of us had taxied back to mid-field and was already cleared to cross inner runway before we landed. Aircraft behind us did not land until after we had crossed in field runway and had taxied back to mid-field taxiway. Hard to understand large airspeed charges (300 to 180 KTS), flaps at 12000' for about 45 mi, all for probably 10 mi in trail sep. No significant WX (closest was 100 mi east).also unable to understand aggression delaying tactics and definite waste of fuel.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR PLT NOT HAPPY WITH ATC SERVICES ON ARR TO A MAJOR ACR ARPT.

Narrative: UNNECESSARY ATC HARASSMENT, DELAY AND LOSS OF BIG PICTURE. WE WERE GIVEN HOLDING AT MACEY INTXN WITH AN EAC OF 30 MINS (ACTUALLY HELD ONLY 5-6 MINS). WE WERE GIVEN 280 KTS, THEN 300 KTS FOR 50 MI, THEN SLOWED STRAIGHT TO 180 KTS AT 12000' AGL BEFORE ARRIVING ABEAM ARPT. WE WERE TOLD OF 20 MIN FINAL. TURNED ABOUT 16-17 MI FINAL WITH GOOD 10 MI IN TRAIL WIT ACFT AHEAD AND WERE TOLD TO HOLD 170 KTS TO MARKER. WE WERE CLR OF CLOUDS AT 1000' AGL AND ACFT AHEAD OF US WAS ALREADY CLRING RWY. ACFT AHEAD OF US HAD TAXIED BACK TO MID-FIELD AND WAS ALREADY CLRED TO CROSS INNER RWY BEFORE WE LANDED. ACFT BEHIND US DID NOT LAND UNTIL AFTER WE HAD CROSSED IN FIELD RWY AND HAD TAXIED BACK TO MID-FIELD TXWY. HARD TO UNDERSTAND LARGE AIRSPD CHARGES (300 TO 180 KTS), FLAPS AT 12000' FOR ABOUT 45 MI, ALL FOR PROBABLY 10 MI IN TRAIL SEP. NO SIGNIFICANT WX (CLOSEST WAS 100 MI E).ALSO UNABLE TO UNDERSTAND AGGRESSION DELAYING TACTICS AND DEFINITE WASTE OF FUEL.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.